During the Republican debate a couple of weeks ago, I had a question about a peculiar commercial halfway through: what is "Biden's whale EZ pass lane"? Today, Politico finally—finally!—answers me:
A new television commercial from a GOP-linked conservative group accuses Biden of raising gasoline prices by creating an “E-ZPass lane for whales in the Gulf.” The ad aligns with GOP lawmakers’ attempts to block the administration from limiting oil and gas exploration in an endangered whale’s habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.
OK. It turns out that a species known as the Rice's whale was discovered two years ago in the Gulf of Mexico. However, there were so few that it was immediately designated an endangered species. In August, to protect the whale, the Biden administration removed six million acres from a sale of oil leases in the gulf and also proposed restrictions on oil vessels in the area. A bunch of the usual suspects instantly sued them and the case is now in court.
Fine. But why did anyone think it was a good idea to call this an "EZ pass lane" for whales? That's a bizarrely nonsensical in-joke. Much better is this:
[The] ad debuted the same day Republicans in the House Natural Resources Committee approved Louisiana Republican Rep. Garret Graves‘ “Requiring Integrity in Conservation Efforts (RICE’s Whale) Act,” H.R. 6008, which aims to undo the administration’s efforts to protect the species from offshore oil and natural gas drilling.
Now we're talking. More here if you're interested.
Sheesh, just get the scientists to say the genetic analysis was wrong and really they've been Bryde's whales all along! Sure Rice might have his nose out of joint, but it's his own fault for being a troublemaker.
Americans never take up obvious solutions to problems.
"As for the group behind the ad, Building America’s Future . . . Virginia records show that its president is Chris Jankowski, a Republican operative who is also a longtime consultant for Leo’s dark money operation. Jankowski is also the executive director of the Never Back Down super PAC, which is backing DeSantis’ 2024 presidential run."
So confirmed, an astroSurf operation seemingly funded by Leo's unaccounted-for billions and shepherded by a champion grifter who is clearly a real man of political genius (tm).
No wonder the ad has everybody shaking their heads and going "huh?"
(BTW, I'd be interested in the bizarre in-joke origins of that line, if you wouldn't mind posting a link.)
"Whale EZ Pass Lane" is a stupid and crazy-making phrase. That's all you need in rightwing politics these days.
The RICE Rise-protection law might be accepted by less inflamed Republicans, if an actual explanation were given. Thus, it cannot be.
"...a bizarrely nonsensical in-joke..." whose target audience do not drive on freeways -- or, if they do, at speeds under 35mph. What is today's equivalent of the Chrysler New Yorker?